GDP Growth Picks Up in Second Quarter

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased 2.5 percent in the second quarter of 2013 after increasing 1.1 percent in the first quarter, according to the “second” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The second-quarter growth rate was revised up 0.8 percentage point from the advance estimate released in July.

GDP growth highlights
The second-quarter acceleration reflected the following:
• An upturn in goods exports; nonautomotive consumer goods accelerated, and civilian aircraft and parts turned up.
• An upturn in business investment, mainly in power and communication structures.

These contributions to the acceleration in economic growth were offset in part by an acceleration in imports; autos, engines, and parts turned up. In addition, inventory investment and consumer spending slowed.